Climate Science Centers: An “Existence Theorem” for a Federal–University Partnership to Develop Actionable and Needs-Driven Science Agendas

Abstract:

Climate Science Centers: An “Existence Theorem” for a Federal–University Partnership to Develop Actionable and Needs-Driven Science Agendas.

Berrien Moore III (University of Oklahoma)

The South Central Climate Science Center (CSC) is one of eight regional centers established by the Department of the Interior (DoI) under Secretarial Order 3289 to address the impacts of climate change on America's water, land, and other natural and cultural resources. Under DoI leadership and funding, these CSCs will

• provide scientific information tools and techniques to study impacts of climate change
• synthesize and integrate climate change impact data
• develop tools that the DoI managers and partners can use when managing the DOI's land, water, fish and wildlife, and cultural heritage resources (emphasis added)

 

The network of Climate Science Centers will provide decision makers with the science, tools, and information they need to address the impacts of climate variability and change on their areas of responsibility. Note from Webster, a tool is a device for doing work; it makes outcomes more realizable and more cost effective, and, in a word, better.

Prior to the existence of CSCs, the university and federal scientific world certainly contained a large “set” of scientists with considerable strength in the physical, biological, natural, and social sciences to address the complexities and interdisciplinary nature of the challenges in the areas of climate variability, change, impacts, and adaptation. However, this set of scientists were hardly an integrated community let alone a focused team, but rather a collection of distinguished researchers, educators, and practitioners that were working with disparate though at times linked objectives, and they were rarely aligning themselves formally to an overarching strategic pathway. In addition, data, models, research results, tools, and products were generally somewhat “disconnected” from the broad range of stakeholders. I should note also that NOAA's Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments ( RISA) program is an earlier “Existence Theorem” for a Federal–University Partnership to Develop Actionable and Needs-Driven Science Agendas.

This contribution will discuss the important cultural shift that has flowed from Secretarial Order 3289.